Hey! My name is Brittany - but you can call me Britt!

I'm a student pursuing a Bachelor in History, while also working part time for the government at the Canadian Heraldic Authority (we design, produce & register Coats of Arms, it's pretty nifty!)

I think the best way to sum me up is to say that I love stories. Whether it's the story of how the coffee beans were harvested, dried, roasted, ground, and then brewed in an espresso machine to produce the most beautiful crema, and topped with a dollop of perfectly steamed foam before the barista handed me a cup of warm espresso, or, a story of the inspiration behind a painting- I love stories! Nothing would please me more than to sit around drinking good wine and sharing stories!

Two last things:
I'm super easy going & I'm clean!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've been to Europe but once before- and honestly it was such a short trip (1 week) . I was in the Czech Republic for a debate tournament, which was pretty cool, but I spent 6.5/7 days in the classrooms at the University. I had barely anytime to look around an BE in Europe.

This time, I'm taking 3 extra weeks (in addition to the 1 week debate tournament- this time in Greece) to actually explore Europe. Of course I want to see the Eiffel tower, and do a few touristy things here and there, but I would also love to see the real side of the city! I would rather spend my time experiencing a city, a conversation or steeping in the pleasure of a breathtaking view than wasting time trying to take the perfect selfie!

I hope through couchsurfing I will experience the real Europe!

Unfortunately I cannot host at this time as I live with two roommates who are uncomfortable with people coming and going constantly.

But I will definitely host anyone who hosts me should they want to visit Canada- either at my current place in Ottawa, or they can stay at my mother's home in Montreal, QC (or both!)

Interests

Art, coffee, food, wine, architecture, strolling around.

• arts
• architecture
• design
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• coffee
• drinking
• painting
• swimming
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Good ones. Vague, I know, but I think I have a weird, eclectic taste which is mostly driven by what my friends & people I've met have suggested.

Music:
The Great Gatsby Soundtrack (produced by Jay-Z)
Florence & the Machine
Pop songs played on the piano (no lyrics or other instruments)
Nicki Minaj
and of course Michael Buble's Christmas Album

Movies:
Love Actually
Pretty Woman
The Great Gatsby (the newest version & the 1974 one)
Fun fact: the first film adaptation of the Great Gatsby was actually seen by Fitzgerald, who allegedly didn't like it. The film has also been lost, and the only surviving footage is this trailer for it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJDEnQZ_PT0

Books:
The Great Gatsby (is this maybe a theme?)
Pride & Prejudice
Uglies

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One of the most amazing things I've done is classified :(

But the next coolest thing was going swimming at a friend's cottage near Algonquin Park (an iconic Canadian Park). His grandfather had bought the land many years ago, and so the lake we swam in on his land was pristine- there were no man-made buildings dotting the shore. It looked exactly the way it would have looked 100 or even 200 years before! We swam 15 minutes from the shore to the middle of the lake where there was a large rock island, and just spent the afternoon sitting on the rock, jumping in and swimming. That is undoubtedly my happy place!

Teach, Learn, Share

Stories! I have many stories and can't wait to hear yours!

What I Can Share with Hosts

So I was discussing this with friends the other day- I don't come from a rich culinary history. My ancestors were poor farmers who ate cheap & bland food, and my father is a picky-er eater than a grumpy 3 year old. Despite that, I think I'm actually a pretty good cook- and I love to make food for others.

So if you have time, I would love to make you dinner one night, though unfortunately it will not be my "local specialty" for one simple reason: Canada doesn't really have traditional fare other than poutine (which I have never endeavored to make in my life- there are just too many poutine stands!)

Countries I’ve Visited

Czech Republic, Mexico, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada